(a) Purpose. - Each local board of education shall be
assisted by a business advisory council in the performance of its duties to
provide career and technical education instruction, activities, and services in
accordance with this Article. The business advisory council shall serve local
boards of education by identifying economic and workforce development trends
related to the training and educational needs of the local community and
advocating for strong, local career and technical education programs, including
career pathway development that provides work-based learning opportunities for
students and prepares students for post-secondary educational certifications
and credentialing for high-demand careers. A business advisory council
established under this Part may serve more than one local board of education in
a region of the State upon the agreement of the members of the council and all
of the local boards of education to be served by that council.

(b) Workforce Production Subcommittees. - A business
advisory council may form a subcommittee of the council for the purposes of
advising a local board of education on workforce production activities under
Part 2 of this Article.

(c) Membership. - Each business advisory council shall
have at least nine members. The council shall be composed of members who
reasonably reflect the education, business, and community makeup of the local
school administrative unit that it serves. A majority of the membership of the
council shall be composed of business, industry, and community members
appointed in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection, and the
remaining members shall consist of education representatives as follows:

(1) Education representatives. - The following members
shall serve ex officio on the council to represent each local school
administrative unit that the council serves:

a. The superintendent of the local school
administrative unit or his or her designee.

b. The career and technical education program director
of the local school administrative unit as a nonvoting member.

c. The president of the community college that serves
the area in which the local school administrative unit is located, in whole or
in part, or his or her designee.

d. A principal of a school located within the local
school administrative unit, as assigned by the superintendent.

(2) Business, industry, and community representatives. -
At least five other members shall serve on the council to represent business
and industry located within each local school administrative unit that the
council serves and the community. Members shall be business, industry, and
workforce and economic development stakeholders in the community, and community
members, including any of the following:

a. Local business and industry owners.

b. Representatives from local manufacturing centers
and factories.

c. Human resource directors employed at businesses and
industries in the community.

d. Representatives from community-based organizations.

e. Representatives from economic and workforce
development organizations.

f. Parents of students enrolled in career and
technical education courses.

g. Representative or manager of the local
apprenticeship coalition.

(d) Initial Terms and Appointments. - Each local board
of education shall make the initial appointment of members of the business
advisory council under subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section for
terms beginning January 1, 2018. The local board of education shall divide the
initial appointments into three groups if there are only three appointments,
and into four groups as equal in size as practicable if there are more than
three appointments, and shall designate appointments in group one to serve four-year
terms, in group two to serve three-year terms, in group three to serve two-year
terms, and in group four to serve one-year terms.

(e) Subsequent Terms and Appointments. - As terms
expire for members appointed as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the
business advisory council shall appoint subsequent members of the business
advisory council under subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section for
four-year terms. The local board of education shall establish a policy on the appointment
of subsequent members to the council, including procedures for increasing the
number of members serving on the council. Any vacancies in seats appointed to
the council shall be filled by the remaining members of the council.

(f) Council Secretary. - The career and technical
education program director shall serve as secretary to the council. If the
council serves more than one local board of education, the program director of
each local school administrative unit shall serve as secretary for a period of
time as determined by the members of the council.

(g) Bylaws. - Each business advisory council shall
adopt bylaws establishing procedures for conducting the business of the
council, which shall include at least the following:

(1) A chair of the business advisory council shall be
elected annually by the members of the council from among the business and
industry representative members of the council.

(2) A majority of the members shall constitute a
quorum.

(3) The business advisory council shall meet at least
biannually.

(4) The chair or three of the members may call a
special meeting of the council.

(5) Procedures for appointing members to the council
that are consistent with the policy adopted by the local board of education
under subsection (e) of this section.

(h) Public Records. - A business advisory council is
subject to the Public Records Act, Chapter 132 of the General Statutes, and the
Open Meetings Law, Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.

(i) Expenses. - The local board of education shall
provide for meeting space and assignment of necessary administrative staff to
the business advisory council. (2017-57, s.
7.23H(e).)